Local Government (LG) Improvement and Development and Involve have launched a new guidance document, 'Not another consultation! Making engagement informal and fun' looking at how local government can tackle health inequalities and improve health through engagement with the public.

This guide is based on successful work with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and NHS West Kent using informal engagement to promote health improvement in the West Kent area. The partnership mixed accessible engagement with activities like Indian head massage, face painting, 'smoothie bikes' and jewellery making. Health information stalls covered issues including smoking and sexual health. The group was thus able to run a lively and positive engagement event that broke the boundaries of formal consultation and moved away from box ticking. If you would like to find out how to plan, run and evaluate this kind of informal engagement event, then this guidance will help.

You can find the guidance here: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/23677408